drifting

noun

drift·​ing ˈdrif-tiŋ 

: the act or activity of steering an automobile so that it makes a controlled skid sideways through a turn with the front wheels pointed in a direction opposite to that of the turn

Drifting began in the early 1980s with a Japanese race-car driver named Keiichi Tsuchiya. Mr. Tsuchiya, who was in his 20s, started experimenting with drifting and practiced it on curvy roads deep in the mountains near his hometown. He says he was perfecting his ability to not spin out on curves in car races.

—Norihiko Shirouzu et al.

also : a sport in which drivers compete at this activity

Drifting has nothing to do with racing. There's no checkered flag. It's more like figure skating than speed skating, with a three-judge panel awarding points based on speed, angle of attack and style.

—W. J. Hennigan

Examples of drifting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, the controller uses Hall Effect thumbsticks, which are smoother and more durable, reducing drifting. —George Yang, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026

There will be a single rider line for solo guests, and the coaster will boast 360-degree rotation, which is meant to create the sensation of a car drifting. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

From familiar orchestral swells to ritualized envelope openings, Hollywood’s annual night at the Dolby is uniquely suited for nocturnal drifting. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026

Surveillance video shows the van drifting towards the curb as the driver goes through the intersection, then traveling up onto the sidewalk at the corner, crashing into a pole, a sign and a trash can. —Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026

The vroom-vroom event features more than 800 custom, exotic, rare and exclusive cars and trucks, as well as live-action drifting, fan ride-alongs, custom exhibits, interactive fan racing activities and attractions, auctions and live concerts. —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026

These strong winds pick up available snow from the ground, or blow any snow which is falling, creating very low visibilities and the potential for significant drifting of snow. —Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal, 22 Jan. 2026

Because of the ship’s size and uncontrollable drifting, however, the crew’s actions to try to prevent the crash were ultimately futile. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025

Kane is the goalscorer and all-round talisman, Olise the drifting, carrying playmaker and Gnabry the dynamic generalist. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1998, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drifting

• gifting
• lifting
• rifting
• shifting
• sifting
• shoplifting
• uplifting